A few days ago I went out to start my car in the morning, and the motor cranked over normally for a second or two, then the battery died off. So I hook my jumpers up to it, give it some juice, try and start it again and all of a sudden, "REEEH REEH". A high pitched sound when it cranked over, as if theres no compression when I try to start it. I've already eliminated the starter as a potential problem, because it cranks over consitantly and healthy. I'm NOT getting spark, so my dist may or may not be working normally.

Everyone in my auto class says my timing chain or sprocket have failed. I want to make sure I know thats the problem before I yank the front cover off. What do you guys think the problem could be?

Edited because im stupid

 

well if your chain broke you would have no spark. the cam is what turns the rotor in side the cap. it could have jumped teeth I guess.

 

Sorry, I typo'd. I meant to say I didnt have spark. Im in a rush to type all this because im still in class. Sorry about that.

 

Then it must be broken. That "REEEH REEH" sounds about right. Kind of like turning over the motor with no plugs.

 

Thanks for the input.. I had no idea a chain or sprocket could go so fast. Looks like ive got my work cut out for me.

 

What do you mean so fast??? How many miles on the car?

They do usually stretch first and you start to lose timing but they can break. Easy enough would be to just remove the cap and see if the rotor spins. just to make sure.

 

Its got 115k.. by "fast" I mean, it runs normally the night before, then in the morning, poof, no more timing chain.

 

timing chain job isnt that bad at all.

I agree, pull the distrib cap off, and have someone tap the key while you watch the rotor. If it moves, something else.

If it stays still, then start pulling the front of the motor off.

 

Well but I bet it was awful cold this morning too. And I bet GM still makes them out of plastic. I know the one in my 80 camaro was plastic.

 

another thought. The teeth on the flywheel is just welded on, that could have come loose.

Another member on this board had that problem.

 

Just don't use the crankshaft's original center bolt to "pull" the new crank sprocket OR the balancer back onto the crank. I learned that the hard way (bolt snapped off in my crankshaft). Either buy a balancer installer, make one, or use the hammer/block-of-wood method.

 

True that. On my 80 camaro I never got it back on good eoungh. few month later the water pump went for no reason. I got pissed off and sold the car. [what a dumb *** I was] but the next guy to own it had it long enough that the mains went form the balancer never being back on right.

It was a long time ago and the first time I ever did anything to a car. Guess it was good that I sold it and got my cash out of it before more damage was done.
[ only paid $250/ sold it for $500]

 

If the timing chain is broken, I'm not sure tapping the key is such a good idea. You can turn the crank by hand by pulling on the belts.